MANDAN, ND – The 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at noon (Central Time), Monday, May 26, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 6.5 miles south of Mandan on North Dakota Highway 1806. This annual event, hosted by the North Dakota National Guard, honors all deceased American servicemen and women and is free to the public. The first observance was held in 1993.

The ceremony will also be live streamed at ndguard.nd.gov through the North Dakota National Guard YouTube page and will begin with a UH-60 Black Hawk flyover performed by the North Dakota National Guard at approximately 12:03 p.m.  The event can also be found on Facebook.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early because of expected large crowds and the motorcycle honor run. Since seating is limited, bringing lawn chairs is recommended.

Those who are only dropping off flowers for Memorial Day grave decorations we encourage to be finished and exited facility by 10:00 a.m.

Handicap-marked vehicles are encouraged to arrive before 10:30 a.m. Drivers should ensure handicap credentials and decals are readily visible to parking attendants.  Shuttle vehicles will be available to transport attendees from parking areas to the ceremony area. Attendees are encouraged not to drive large vehicles, such as recreational vehicles, campers, or tow trailers due to constrained parking.

The keynote speaker is North Dakota native, retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Hillig of Bismarck.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak,  and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, are scheduled to render remarks. The emcee is U.S. Army Capt. Chelsy Adams, North Dakota National Guard.

The North Dakota Army National Guard’s Fargo-based 188th Army Band’s “Cover Down” Brass Quintet will perform “How Great Thou Art” as well as pre-ceremony music. Also participating in the ceremony are local Veteran and civic organizations.

The national anthem will be performed by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Augustus Tandberg, 188th Army Band, Taps performed by Douglas Webber, and AMVETS Post #9 will render a rifle-salute volley. The North Dakota National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team will execute a 21-gun cannon salute with a World War I-era French 75-millimeter cannon. Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Leach, 131st Military Police Battalion, North Dakota Army National Guard, and Monsignor Patrick Schumacher, Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, will provide the opening and closing prayers.

In support of this ceremony, the Viet Nam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club will organize a motorcycle Honor Run at “The Shop” (131 Airport Road) in Bismarck. Participants will leave Bismarck at 11 a.m., head west on Main Street, and cross the Liberty Memorial Bridge to Mandan’s Memorial Highway. After turning west on Mandan’s 3rd Street SE, the motorcyclists will head south on North Dakota Highway 1806 until they reach the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. All motorcyclists and passengers are invited to participate, and no pre-coordination is required. Please arrive on your motorcycle between 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Bus transportation will be available for the public to and from the ceremony.

  • Bismarck: Bank of North Dakota parking lot, 1200 Memorial Highway. 
    • A 45-passenger bus donated by Harlow’s Bus Service.
    • Bus will arrive at 9:30 a.m. and depart at 10:15 a.m.
  • Mandan: Family Fare Supermarket parking lot, 500 Burlington Street, SE. 
    • A 30-passenger bus, donated by Nightlife Limousine.
    • Bus will arrive at 9:15-9:30 a.m. and depart 10:15 a.m.

In honor of Memorial Day, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park will host a Military Appreciation Day by offering free admission and tours to military members, Veterans, and their families. This state park is located adjacent to the Veterans cemetery. For additional information about Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, please call 701-667-6340.

The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery was established by an act of the 1989 North Dakota Legislative Assembly. The cemetery was opened in July 1992 and is operated by the Office of the North Dakota adjutant general.